Assistant Professor - Political Science

Mission or Goal of Unit:

The mission of the College of Humanities and Sciences is to serve as the intellectual heart and soul of our institution and wider community. The College of Humanities and Sciences:

• Prepares lifelong learners to participate actively as engaged and responsible citizens
• Propels scientific research and scholarship to improve the human condition, cure and treat diseases, and promote healthy environments
• Grounds us in our history, critically examines our present human condition and empowers students to create more equitable local and global communities
• Provides communities with a passionate and creative workforce that serves as a powerful engine for economic development and innovative solutions to problems

As the intellectual lifeblood of VCU and our community, the College of Humanities and Sciences seeks to inspire our students to explore their passions and dreams as individuals and provide the context to understand their place in the world and connections with others-locally, globally and throughout time. Most importantly, our educational and research environment addresses an array of technological, health-related and societal problems, as well as providing profound insights and reflections of what it means to be human and humane..

Chief Purpose of this position: The Department of Political Science at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is seeking applications for a tenure eligible faculty position at the Assistant Professor rank to begin August 2025, to support the Department's teaching and research mission in the area of American Politics. We are seeking candidates with active, innovative research agendas who have training and expertise in the politics of gender, race, ethnicity, and/or class and inequality in the U.S.

Position Responsibilities: Successful candidates should be able to teach Women and the Law (POLI 316) and/or Politics of Race, Class, and Gender (POLI 318). Though not required, the ability to teach Research Methods (POLI 320), a core course for our majors, is a plus. The teaching load for tenure-line faculty in our department is two courses per semester.

Required Qualifications: The position requires a PhD in political science, or a closely related field, at the time of employment. Successful candidates will have demonstrated expertise and potential for publication in the faculty area of research.

Preferred Qualifications: N/A

VCU is an R1, NSF top 50 public research university in Richmond, a thriving city with abundant cultural and outdoor activities. Our campus is a 15-minute walk from the State Capitol. We're also close to the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Chesapeake Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, and Washington, DC. For more information about living and working in Richmond, see https://hr.vcu.edu/careers-at-vcu/why-work-at-vcu/.

Diversity is among our greatest assets at VCU, and our effort to create and sustain an equitable and inclusive environment is the best approach toward leveraging this asset into universal excellence and success. Successful candidates will have demonstrated experience working in and fostering inclusion and diversity, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU. VCU is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. VCU provides access to education and employment without regard to age, race, color, national origin, gender, religion, sexual orientation, veteran's status, political affiliation, or disability.

We will be at the APSA Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. Please contact polistaff@vcu.edu to schedule an interview.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Applications can only be submitted at http://vcujobs.com/. Applicants must upload a CV and cover letter, as well as a research statement, writing sample(s), a teaching statement, and a diversity and inclusion statement. Applicants are also encouraged to submit course evaluations, if available, as well as course syllabi. Questions should be directed to Dr. Alex Keena at keenaja@vcu.edu. The application deadline is October 1, 2024. Start date will be August 2025.